15N Pool Dilution Techniques Research Articles

Lack of inhibitory effects of 1-Octyne and PTIO on ammonia oxidizers, nitrite oxidizers, and nitrate formation in acidic paddy soils

The feasibility of employing double inhibitors consisting of PTIO and 1-octyne with the 15N pool dilution technique to distinguish comammox process from archaeal and bacterial nitrification remains to be confirmed. As such, we carried out a nitrification inhibition experiment on acidic paddy soils at a pH of 5.0, 5.3, and 5.4 to investigate the effects of 1-octyne and PTIO on nitrate (NO3−) formation, ammonia (NH3)-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB), comammox Nitrospira, and nitrite (NO2−)-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) under urea fertilized- and unfertilized- conditions. We observed that 1-Octyne stimulated the growth of comammox Nitrospira clades A and B, and Nitrobacter-like NOB and Nitrospira-like NOB without inhibiting AOB growth. This observation indicates that 1-Octyne has the potential to promote comammox process and NO2− oxidization, and its usage may lead to an underestimation of AOB activity. Unexpectedly, we found that PTIO was incapable of causing a rapid inhibition of AOA growth and NO3− formation. In the short term, PTIO was usually not detrimental to the growth of comammox Nitrospira clades A and B, AOB, and Nitrobacter-like NOB. Instead, increased growth of AOB and Nitrospira-like NOB were observed following its application. Likely due to increased bacterial nitrification and NO2− oxidation and the reaction of PTIO with nitric oxide (NO) produced by non-nitrification processes, increased NO3− formation with PTIO was observable in acidic soils with varying N statuses. These findings highlight the need to develop novel and more efficient inhibition strategies to actualize rate distinction among AOA, AOB, comammox Nitrospira in acidic soils.

Nitrogen dynamics of grassland soils with differing habitat quality: high temporal resolution captures the details

AbstractExcessive nitrogen (N) input is one of the major threats for species‐rich grasslands. The ongoing deterioration of habitat quality highlights the necessity to further investigate underlying N turnover processes. Our objectives were (1) to quantify gross and net rates of mineral N production (mineralization and nitrification) and consumption in seminatural grasslands in southwest Germany, with excellent or poor habitat quality, (2) to monitor the temporal variability of these processes, and (3) to investigate differences between calcareous and decalcified soils. In 2016 and 2017, gross N turnover rates were measured using the 15N pool dilution technique in situ on four Arrhenatherion meadows in biweekly cycles between May and November. Simultaneously, net rates of mineralization and nitrification, soil temperature, and moisture were measured. The vegetation was mapped, and basic soil properties were determined. The calcareous soils showed higher gross nitrification rates compared with gross mineralization. In contrast, nitrification was inhibited in the decalcified soils, most likely due to the low pH, and mineralization was the dominant process. Both mineralization and nitrification were characterized by high temporal variability (especially the former) and short residence times of N in the corresponding pools (<2 days) at all sites. This illustrates that high temporal resolution is necessary during the growing season to detect N mineralization patterns and capture variability. Parallel determination of net N turnover rates showed almost no variability, highlighting that net rates are not suitable for drawing conclusions about actual gross turnover rates. During the growing season, the data show no clear relationship between soil temperature/soil moisture and gross N turnover rates. For future experiments, recording of microbial biomass, dissolved organic matter, and root N uptake should be considered.

Nitrogen and phosphorus availability have stronger effects on gross and net nitrogen mineralisation than wheat rhizodeposition

Soil nitrogen (N) availability is determined by microbial gross N mineralisation (GNM) and immobilisation, where net N mineralisation (NNM) represents their balance. Plants provide a substantial amount of their photosynthesized C belowground into the soil as rhizodeposition, which can stimulate microbial activity affecting GNM and NNM, but this activity also depends on soil N and phosphorus (P) availability. We examined how N (25 and 100 kg N ha−1 or 44 and 177 mg N pot−1) and P (10 and 40 kg P ha−1, or 18 and 71 mg P pot−1) fertilisation affected microbial N mineralisation in soil planted with two wheat genotypes (Suntop and 249) varying in root biomass and rhizodeposition. We used a continuous 13CO2 labelling method to track plant C rhizodeposition and a 15N pool dilution technique to investigate GNM. We further assessed NNM by comparing N pools in plant and soil at the start and end of the experiment. We observed increased GNM with increased P fertilisation, likely because of P-induced N limitation stimulating microbial mining for N, particularly at the low level of N fertilisation. N fertilisation did not affect GNM but the higher level of N fertilisation reduced NNM, likely because of increased microbial immobilisation of fertiliser N. Our results suggest that GNM was more sensitive to soil N and P availability than to rhizodeposition between wheat genotypes, although at high N fertilisation, rhizodeposition contributed to reduced NNM, likely because rhizodeposition enhanced microbial N immobilisation. We conclude that the relative availability of N and P in soil should be considered for managing GNM and NNM in soil.

Gross Ammonification and Nitrification Rates in Soil Amended with Natural and NH4-Enriched Chabazite Zeolite and Nitrification Inhibitor DMPP

Using zeolite-rich tuffs for improving soil properties and crop N-use efficiency is becoming popular. However, the mechanistic understanding of their influence on soil N-processes is still poor. This paper aims to shed new light on how natural and NH4+-enriched chabazite zeolites alter short-term N-ammonification and nitrification rates with and without the use of nitrification inhibitor (DMPP). We employed the 15N pool dilution technique to determine short-term gross rates of ammonification and nitrification in a silty-clay soil amended with two typologies of chabazite-rich tuff: (1) at natural state and (2) enriched with NH4+-N from an animal slurry. Archaeal and bacterial amoA, nirS and nosZ genes, N2O-N and CO2-C emissions were also evaluated. The results showed modest short-term effects of chabazite at natural state only on nitrate production rates, which was slightly delayed compared to the unamended soil. On the other hand, the addition of NH4+-enriched chabazite stimulated NH4+-N production, N2O-N emissions, but reduced NO3−-N production and abundance of nirS-nosZ genes. DMPP efficiency in reducing nitrification rates was dependent on N addition but not affected by the two typologies of zeolites tested. The outcomes of this study indicated the good compatibility of both natural and NH4+-enriched chabazite zeolite with DMPP. In particular, the application of NH4+-enriched zeolites with DMPP is recommended to mitigate short-term N losses.

Seasonality of gross ammonification and nitrification altered by precipitation in a semi-arid grassland of Northern China

Gross ammonification (GA) and gross nitrification (GN) are key regulators of the bioavailability of nitrogen (N) in terrestrial ecosystems. In arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystems, the impacts of precipitation change on in situ GA and GN and their seasonal variations are understudied. A manipulative experiment with five precipitation levels (−60%, −30%, unchanged ambient precipitation as control, +30%, +60% of ambient precipitation) was set up in May 2012. After a 2-year equilibration period, the 15N pool dilution technique was applied to determine GA and GN rates in surface soil (0–5 cm) within 8 sampling dates ranging from the onset to the end of the growing season. Pronounced temporal variability of GA and GN rates were observed with the highest GA and GN rates in the mid-growing season (August) and the lowest in the post-growing season (October). GA rates during the growing season were primarily controlled by precipitation and soil water availability, while this effect diminished at the onset and end of the growing season when the temperature dropped. In contrast, GN was predominately controlled by ammonium (NH4+) production through GA. In the peak-growing season, the +60% precipitation treatment enhanced GA and GN rates by up to 4-fold, while the −30% precipitation treatment marginally suppressed GA and GN rates. The −60% precipitation treatment suppressed GA and GN rates to below detection limits across the entire study period, suggesting that extreme and persistent droughts greatly inhibited N turnover in the surface soil, thereby forcing plants to mobilize and access nutrients from deeper soil layers. Our findings provide a season-specific mechanistic insight into precipitation impacts on topsoil gross N turnover and suggest that the N cycling represented in ecosystem models needs to consider a mechanism that allows a strong suppression of microbial functions under extreme droughts.

Rhizosphere priming regulates soil organic carbon and nitrogen mineralization: The significance of abiotic mechanisms

The effect of living roots on the co-mineralization of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) and driving mechanisms of the rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) remains unclear. Moreover, it is still poorly understood whether the abiotic mechanisms, whereby roots accelerate soil organic matter (SOM) loss by destabilizing organo-mineral associations, are involved. Biotic and abiotic processes involved in the RPE and gross N mineralization (GNM) were investigated using three paddy soils (C3) under maize (C4 plant) cultivation. The soils had high and low total N (1.79 and 3.3 g kg−1 soil) as well as iron- (Fe-) (hydr-) oxide (1.1 and 2.2 g kg−1 soil) contents, which gave the following combinations: high-Fe/low-N, low-Fe/low-N, and low-Fe/high-N. The RPEs and GNM were measured using a 13C-natural abundance approach and 15N-pool dilution technique, respectively, on day 86 of maize cultivation. Living roots enhanced native SOC mineralization by 70.4–204% and GNM by 118–382%. As expected, biotic mechanisms contributed to RPEs (‘microbial activation’ and ‘microbial N-mining’) that was supported by the increase of soil microbial biomass C and extracellular enzyme activities in presence of plant, and the lower C/N ratio of primed SOM than the original SOM in unplanted soils. Higher RPEs and relative primed N mineralization via stronger ‘microbial N-mining’ were found in low-Fe/low-N vs low-Fe/high-N soils. In contrast to expectations, the RPEs and relative primed N mineralization were greater in high-Fe/low-N versus low-Fe oxide soils. The strongest decrease in SOM-derived Fe-bound C and increase in root-derived Fe-bound C were observed in the high-Fe soil, because root exudates liberated more C from Fe-bound SOM and co-precipitated with Fe oxides. This shows that the abiotic process was involved in RPEs whereby root exudates promoted soil C loss by releasing it from Fe-organic complexes. Thus, this study demonstrated that coupled biotic-abiotic processes could regulate RPEs.

Trajectory of Topsoil Nitrogen Transformations Along a Thermo‐Erosion Gully on the Tibetan Plateau

AbstractPermafrost thaw, especially thermokarst formation, that is, ground collapse due to thawing of ice‐rich permafrost, is expected to alter soil gross nitrogen (N) transformations, which can regulate plant productivity and ecosystem carbon cycle. However, it remains unclear how thermokarst formation modifies soil N processes in permafrost ecosystems. Here 15N pool dilution techniques were used to evaluate changes in topsoil gross N transformations during various thaw stages (early, middle, and late stages) along a thermo‐erosion gully on the Tibetan Plateau. Structural equation modeling was then conducted to explore the relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors in affecting soil gross N transformations. The results showed that topsoil gross N mineralization (GNM) decreased at the three stages, reflecting declined inorganic N production after permafrost collapse. In contrast, topsoil gross nitrification increased only during the early stage. Additionally, the ratio of microbial N immobilization to GNM was enhanced during the middle and late stages, indicating a stronger microbial N limitation after thermokarst formation. The structural equation modeling analysis revealed that soil moisture played an important role in modulating gross N transformations. For GNM, decreased soil moisture had inhibiting effects via regulating the microbial biomass, microbial community, and enzyme activities along the thaw sequence. For gross nitrification, declined soil moisture exerted facilitating effects directly by improving oxygen availability and indirectly by modulating the abundances of ammonia‐oxidizing archaea and bacteria during the early stage. Overall, these results demonstrated that thermokarst formation altered soil N processes, potentially triggering interactions between ecosystem N and carbon cycles after permafrost thaw.

Nitrogen turnover and N2O/N2 ratio of three contrasting tropical soils amended with biochar

Biochar has been reported to reduce emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) from soils, but the mechanisms responsible remain fragmentary. For example, it is unclear how biochar effects on N2O emissions are mediated through biochar effects on soil gross N turnover rates. Hence, we conducted an incubation study with three contrasting agricultural soils from Kenya (an Acrisol cultivated for 10-years (Acrisol10); an Acrisol cultivated for over 100-years (Acrisol100); a Ferralsol cultivated for over 100 years (Ferralsol)). The soils were amended with biochar at either 2% or 4% w/w. The 15N pool dilution technique was used to quantify gross N mineralization and nitrification and microbial consumption of extractable N over a 20-day incubation period at 25 °C and 70% water holding capacity of the soil, accompanied by N2O emissions measurements. Direct measurements of N2 emissions were conducted using the helium gas flow soil core method. N2O emissions varied across soils with higher emissions in Acrisols than in Ferralsols. Addition of 2% biochar reduced N2O emissions in all soils by 53 to 78% with no significant further reduction induced by addition at 4%. Biochar effects on soil nitrate concentrations were highly variable across soils, ranging from a reduction, no effect and an increase. Biochar addition stimulated gross N mineralization in Acrisol-10 and Acrisol-100 soils at both addition rates with no effect observed for the Ferralsol. In contrast, gross nitrification was stimulated in only one soil but only at a 4% application rate. Also, biochar effects on increased NH4+ immobilization and NO3−consumption strongly varied across the three investigated soils. The variable and bidirectional biochar effects on gross N turnover in conjunction with the unambiguous and consistent reduction of N2O emissions suggested that the inhibiting effect of biochar on soil N2O emission seemed to be decoupled from gross microbial N turnover processes. With biochar application, N2 emissions were about an order of magnitude higher for Acrisol-10 soils compared to Acrisol-100 and Ferralsol-100 soils. Our N2O and N2 flux data thus support an explanation of direct promotion of gross N2O reduction by biochar rather than effects on soil extractable N dynamics. Effects of biochar on soil extractable N and gross N turnover, however, might be highly variable across different soils as found here for three typical agricultural soils of Kenya.

Microwave Soil Treatment Increases Soil Nitrogen Supply for Sustained Wheat Productivity

Abstract. Herbicide-resistant weeds have prompted the development and adoption of new non-chemical weed management technologies for sustainable food production. Considering this, pre-sowing microwave (MW) soil treatment has potential to reduce weed pressure in no-till farming systems. However, the effects of this transient heat disturbance on the soil nutrient profile and on the uptake and accumulation of nutrients in plant biomass warrant further study. In this study, we examined the effect of MW soil treatment on the recovery and accumulation of nitrogen (N) in wheat dry biomass using a 15N pool dilution technique over two years. Further, temporal changes in wheat yields were assessed by running sequential residual trials. The pre-sowing MW treatment achieved a temperature of 75°C to 85°C. MW soil heating increased the dry biomass and grain yields of the wheat crop over two years of study regardless of the initial N application. Furthermore, MW soil treatment did not significantly increase the N derived from fertilizer (Ndff, %). The maximum Ndff achieved for the untreated control soils at the higher N dose was 13%, while it was only 8% for the MW-treated soil. Despite this, the total N accumulation in the dry biomass increased by 17% because of MW soil heating, compared to the untreated control soils, revealing the uptake of N from indigenous sources. Consequently, the grain yield supported by indigenous soil N was significantly higher with MW soil treatment at 160, 440, and 740 days after heating. In summary, MW soil treatment appeared to be effective for sustaining the soil fertility over the long term, regardless of initial labeled N application. Keywords: Long-lasting effect, Microwave energy, Nitrogen accumulation, Soil temperature, Wheat yields.

Process rates of nitrogen cycle in uppermost topsoil after harvesting in no-tilled and ploughed agricultural clay soil

No-till is considered an agricultural practice beneficial for the environment as soil erosion is decreased compared to ploughed soils. For on overall evaluation of the benefits and disadvantages of this crop production method, understanding the soil nutrient cycle is also of importance. The study was designed to obtain information about gross soil nitrogen (N) process rates in boreal no-tilled and mouldboard ploughed spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) fields after autumn harvesting. In situ soil gross N transformation process rates were quantified for the 5 cm topsoil in 9 days’ incubation experiment using 15N pool dilution and tracing techniques and a numerical 15N tracing model. Gross N mineralization into ammonium (NH4 +) and NH4 + immobilization were the most important N transformation processes in the soils. The gross mineralization rate was 14% and NH4 + immobilization rate 64% higher in no-till than in ploughing. Regardless of the faster mineralization, the gross rate of NH4 + oxidation into nitrate (NO3 −) in no-till was one order of magnitude lower compared the ploughing. The results indicate that the no-tilled soils have the potential to decrease the risk for NO3 − leaching due to slower NH4 + oxidation.

Nitrogen transformations in and N2O emissions from soil amended with manure solids and nitrification inhibitor

Nitrification and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soil can be suppressed effectively by the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD). However, there is currently a lack of in‐depth understanding about whether the effect produced by DCD is affected by the application of manure solids and about the mechanisms of the mitigation effect of DCD on N2O emissions. We applied the 15N pool dilution technique in an incubation experiment to investigate the effect of DCD on nitrification processes and N2O emissions in soil amended with manure solids that were distributed either homogeneously or heterogeneously. The numerical model FLUAZ was used to calculate the gross nitrogen transformation rates from the 15N trace results. The results showed that application of DCD effectively inhibited gross nitrification rates by 50–66% in soil amended with manure solids, but there were no significant effects on nitrate immobilization and remineralization rates. With large rates of nitrate consumption (7–11 mg N kg−1 soil day−1), we detected no significant effect of DCD on nitrification. In general, N2O emissions were about 50% less with the addition of DCD to the soil, even when nitrate consumption dominated. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of manure solids interacted with the inhibitory effects of DCD on nitrification and N2O emissions.HighlightsExplored the effects of co‐application of DCD and manure solids on N transformations. Used the 15N pool dilution technique to investigate effect of DCD on nitrification processes and N2O emissions. Application of DCD effectively and selectively inhibited gross nitrification rates and N2O emissions. The addition of DCD could be used to optimize application strategies of manure solids.

Elevated ozone effects on soil nitrogen cycling differ among wheat cultivars

Elevated O3 (eO3) has strong effects on natural and managed ecosystems, including decreased plant growth, plant tissue quality, species richness, plant litter inputs, decomposition, and root turnover. However, the effects of eO3 on soil nitrogen (N) cycling are poorly understood. Here, a free -air O3 enrichment experiment was conducted from 2007 to 2012, in which two O3-tolerant wheat cultivars and two O3-sensitive cultivars were grown under ambient O3 (aO3, 40 ppb) and eO3 (60 ppb). We used a 15N pool dilution technique to investigate N transformation rates and N availability in the soils in 2012. Both gross and net N transformation rates were significantly decreased (P<0.05) by eO3 in soils growing sensitive wheat cultivars, but were unchanged in soils growing tolerant cultivars. Compared with aO3, NH4+ and NO3− concentrations were significantly increased (P<0.05) by eO3 in soils growing sensitive cultivars but not in soils growing tolerant cultivars. Ammonia monooxygenase activity was significantly increased by eO3 while nitrate reductase activity was significantly decreased. Additionally, redundancy analysis (RDA) suggested that microbial community structure was largely shaped by soil and plant characteristics such as DOC, root C/N ratio, MBC/MBN, shoot/root ratio, root N, soil N and pH. In conclusion, wheat cultivars play an important role in determining the effects of elevated O3 on N transformations. This study provides new insights into our understanding of how changes in microbial diversity and metabolism as mediated by plants will alter N cycling and ecosystem N availability in response to eO3 and suggests that these effects will differ among different plants.

Microbial nitrogen cycling response to forest-based bioenergy production.

Concern over rising atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases due to fossil fuel combustion has intensified research into carbon-neutral energy production. Approximately 15.8 million ha of pine plantations exist across the southeastern United States, representing a vast land area advantageous for bioenergy production without significant landuse change or diversion of agricultural resources from food production. Furthermore, intercropping of pine with bioenergy grasses could provide annually harvestable, lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks along with production of traditional wood products. Viability of such a system hinges in part on soil nitrogen (N) availability and effects of N competition between pines and grasses on ecosystem productivity. We investigated effects of intercropping loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) on microbial N cycling processes in the Lower Coastal Plain of North Carolina, USA. Soil samples were collected from bedded rows of pine and interbed space of two treatments, composed of either volunteer native woody and herbaceous vegetation (pine-native) or pure switchgrass (pine-switchgrass) in interbeds. An in vitro 15N pool-dilution technique was employed to quantify gross N transformations at two soil depths (0-5 and 5-15 cm) on four dates in 2012-2013. At the 0-5 cm depth in beds of the pine-switchgrass treatment, gross N mineralization was two to three times higher in November and February compared to the pine-native treatment, resulting in increased NH4(+) availability. Gross and net nitrification were also significantly higher in February in the same pine beds. In interbeds of the pine-switchgrass treatment, gross N mineralization was lower from April to November, but higher in February, potentially reflecting positive effects of switchgrass root-derived C inputs during dormancy on microbial activity. These findings indicate soil N cycling and availability has increased in pine beds of the pine-switchgrass treatment compared to those of the pine-native treatment, potentially alleviating any negative effects of N competition between pine and switchgrass. We expect that reduced soil C in the pine-switchgrass treatment, effects of pine and switchgrass rooting on soil C availability, and plant N demand are major factors influencing soil N transformations. Future research should examine rooting architecture in-intercropped systems and the effects on soil microbial communities and function.

Soil Nitrogen-Cycling Responses to Conversion of Lowland Forests to Oil Palm and Rubber Plantations in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Rapid deforestation in Sumatra, Indonesia is presently occurring due to the expansion of palm oil and rubber production, fueled by an increasing global demand. Our study aimed to assess changes in soil-N cycling rates with conversion of forest to oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations. In Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, we selected two soil landscapes – loam and clay Acrisol soils – each with four land-use types: lowland forest and forest with regenerating rubber (hereafter, “jungle rubber”) as reference land uses, and rubber and oil palm as converted land uses. Gross soil-N cycling rates were measured using the 15N pool dilution technique with in-situ incubation of soil cores. In the loam Acrisol soil, where fertility was low, microbial biomass, gross N mineralization and NH4 + immobilization were also low and no significant changes were detected with land-use conversion. The clay Acrisol soil which had higher initial fertility based on the reference land uses (i.e. higher pH, organic C, total N, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and base saturation) (P≤0.05–0.09) had larger microbial biomass and NH4 + transformation rates (P≤0.05) compared to the loam Acrisol soil. Conversion of forest and jungle rubber to rubber and oil palm in the clay Acrisol soil decreased soil fertility which, in turn, reduced microbial biomass and consequently decreased NH4 + transformation rates (P≤0.05–0.09). This was further attested by the correlation of gross N mineralization and microbial biomass N with ECEC, organic C, total N (R=0.51–0. 76; P≤0.05) and C:N ratio (R=-0.71 – -0.75, P≤0.05). Our findings suggest that the larger the initial soil fertility and N availability, the larger the reductions upon land-use conversion. Because soil N availability was dependent on microbial biomass, management practices in converted oil palm and rubber plantations should focus on enriching microbial biomass.

Response of N cycling to nutrient inputs in forest soils across a 1000-3000 m elevation gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes.

Large areas in the tropics receive elevated atmospheric nutrient inputs. Presently, little is known on how nitrogen (N) cycling in tropical montane forest soils will respond to such increased nutrient inputs. We assessed how gross rates of mineral N production (N mineralization and nitrification) and microbial N retention (NH4+ and NO3- immobilization and dissimilatory NO3- reduction to NH4+ [DNRA]) change with elevated N and phosphorus (P) inputs in montane forest soils at 1000-, 2000-, and 3000-m elevations in south Ecuador. At each elevation, four replicate plots (20 x 20 m each) of control, N (added at 50 kg N x ha(-1) x yr(-1)), P (added at 10 kg P x ha(-1) x yr(-1)), and combined N+P additions have been established since 2008. We measured gross N cycling rates in 2010 and 2011, using 15N pool dilution techniques with in situ incubation of intact soil cores taken from the top 5 cm of soil. In control plots, gross soil-N cycling rates decreased.with increase in elevation, and microbial N retention was tightly coupled with mineral N production. At 1000 m and 2000 m, four-year N and combined N + P additions increased gross mineral N production but decreased NH4+ and NO3- immobilization and DNRA compared to the control. At 3000 m, four-year N and combined N + P additions increased gross N mineralization rates and decreased DNRA compared to the control; although NH4+ and NO3- immobilization in the N and N + P plots were not different' from the control, these were lower than their respective mineral N production. At all elevations, decreased microbial N retention was accompanied by decreased microbial biomass C and C:N ratio. P addition did not affect any of the soil-N cycling processes. Our results signified that four years of N addition, at a rate expected to occur at these sites, uncoupled the soil-N cycling processes, as indicated by decreased microbial N retention. This fast response of soil-N cycling processes across elevations implies that greater attention should be paid to the biological implications on montane forests of such uncoupled soil-N cycling.

Biochar suppresses N2O emissions while maintaining N availability in a sandy loam soil

Nitrous oxide (N2O) from agricultural soil is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Biochar amendment can contribute to climate change mitigation by suppressing emissions of N2O from soil, although the mechanisms underlying this effect are poorly understood. We investigated the effect of biochar on soil N2O emissions and N cycling processes by quantifying soil N immobilisation, denitrification, nitrification and mineralisation rates using 15N pool dilution techniques and the FLUAZ numerical calculation model. We then examined whether biochar amendment affected N2O emissions and the availability and transformations of N in soils.Our results show that biochar suppressed cumulative soil N2O production by 91% in near-saturated, fertilised soils. Cumulative denitrification was reduced by 37%, which accounted for 85–95 % of soil N2O emissions. We also found that physical/chemical and biological ammonium (NH4+) immobilisation increased with biochar amendment but that nitrate (NO3−) immobilisation decreased. We concluded that this immobilisation was insignificant compared to total soil inorganic N content. In contrast, soil N mineralisation significantly increased by 269% and nitrification by 34% in biochar-amended soil.These findings demonstrate that biochar amendment did not limit inorganic N availability to nitrifiers and denitrifiers, therefore limitations in soil NH4+ and NO3− supply cannot explain the suppression of N2O emissions. These results support the concept that biochar application to soil could significantly mitigate agricultural N2O emissions through altering N transformations, and underpin efforts to develop climate-friendly agricultural management techniques.

Rhizosphere priming effects on soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization

Living roots and their rhizodeposits affect microbial activity and soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization. This so-called rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) has been increasingly recognized recently. However, the magnitude of the RPE and its driving mechanisms remain elusive. Here we investigated the RPE of two plant species (soybean and sunflower) grown in two soil types (a farm or a prairie soil) and sampled at two phenological stages (vegetative and mature stages) over an 88-day period in a greenhouse experiment. We measured soil C mineralization using a continuous 13C-labeling method, and quantified gross N mineralization with a 15N-pool dilution technique. We found that living roots significantly enhanced soil C mineralization, by 27–245%. This positive RPE on soil C mineralization did not vary between the two soils or the two phenological stages, but was significantly greater in sunflower compared to soybean. The magnitude of the RPE was positively correlated with rhizosphere respiration rate across all treatments, suggesting the variation of RPE among treatments was likely caused by variations in root activity and rhizodeposit quantity. Moreover, living roots stimulated gross N mineralization rate by 36–62% in five treatments, while they had no significant impact in the other three treatments. We also quantified soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activity when plants were at the vegetative stage. Generally, living roots increased microbial biomass carbon by 0–28%, β-glucosidase activity by 19–56%, and oxidative enzyme activity by 0–46%. These results are consistent with the positive rhizosphere effect on soil C (45–79%) and N (10–52%) mineralization measured at the same period. We also found significant positive relationships between β-glucosidase activity and soil C mineralization rates and between oxidative enzyme activity and gross N mineralization rates across treatments. These relationships provide clear evidence for the microbial activation hypothesis of RPE. Our results demonstrate that root–soil–microbial interactions can stimulate soil C and N mineralization through rhizosphere effects. The relationships between the RPE and rhizosphere respiration rate and soil enzyme activity can be used for explicit representations of RPE in soil organic matter models.

Impact of fire on soil gross nitrogen transformations in forest ecosystems

Forests play a key role in the global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. Fire is a global phenomenon occurring in many forest ecosystems, which has several environmental and ecological effects. The objective of this review was to improve our understanding of the effect of fire on soil gross N transformations in forest ecosystems. We have reviewed the published studies using 15N pool dilution technique with analytical data analysis method to study the effect of fires on gross N transformations in forest ecosystems. Wildfires increased gross N mineralization rates in the short term and the effect disappeared from 3 years after the fire, while the effect of prescribed fires disappeared from 2 years after the burning. Both wildfires and prescribed fires reduced gross nitrification in the short term, while their effects varied from 6 months following the burning. The different responses of gross N transformations to the fires in forest ecosystems depended on many factors including forest types, the intensity and frequency of fires, the time elapsed between the fires and sampling events, incubation conditions (field or laboratory incubation), climatic conditions and so on. In view of many factors influencing the effect of fires on gross N transformations, more comprehensive studies with physical, chemical, microbial and ecological characterization are needed to improve our knowledge about the effect of fires on soil gross N transformations and then N cycling in forest ecosystems.

Temperature sensitivity of C and N mineralization in temperate forest soils at low temperatures

Climate models predict warmer winter in temperate regions, but little is known about the temperature sensitivity of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization at low temperatures. Here, we assess the temperature sensitivities of gross ammonification, gross nitrification, C and net N mineralization of top soil horizons, under a European beech and a Norway spruce temperate forest. We tested the hypotheses that (1) substrate quality affects the temperature sensitivity of C and N mineralization and (2) that temperature sensitivity of C mineralization is higher than of gross ammonification. Soil incubations were conducted at constant temperatures of −4, −1, +2, +5 and +8 °C. Gross ammonification and nitrification were measured by the 15N pool dilution technique. Temperature sensitivities of C, gross and net N mineralization were calculated using the Arrhenius equation and C mineralization was taken as proxy for substrate quality.Gross ammonification and C mineralization was much larger in the beech than in the spruce soil, while gross nitrification was in the same order of magnitude. Gross ammonification, nitrification and C mineralization almost ceased at −4 °C, but already increased at −1 °C. Net ammonification in Oi/Oe horizons was low at −4 and −1 °C and increased strongly between +2 and +8 °C. Net nitrification was low in both soils, but increased in the spruce soil at temperatures >2 °C whereas no temperature response occurred in the beech soil.Apparent Q10 values of gross ammonification and C mineralization in the temperature range of −4 to +8 °C were in the range of 3–18. Q10 were lowest in soil horizons of low substrate quality. The ratio of C mineralization to gross ammonification varied between 0.5 and 2.9, suggesting preferential mineralization of N rich organic substrates or rapid turnover of the N pool in microbial biomass. Rising winter temperatures might have substantial effects on net N mineralization, but effects decrease with soil depth, likely due to decreasing substrate quality of soil organic matter.

Wheat straw and its biochar have contrasting effects on inorganic N retention and N2O production in a cultivated Black Chernozem

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of direct incorporation of either wheat straw or its biochar into a cultivated Chernozem on gross N transformations calculated by the 15N pool dilution technique and nitrous oxide (N2O) production rates. Incorporation of wheat straw stimulated gross NH4+ (ammonium) and NO3− (nitrate) immobilization rates by 302 and 95.2 %, respectively, suppressed gross nitrification rates by 32.2 %, and increased N2O production by 37.7 %. In contrast, the addition of a biochar produced from the wheat straw did not influence any of the above N cycling processes. Therefore, application of biochar could be a possible management strategy for long-term C sequestration (through soil storage of stable C contained in the biochar) in soils without increasing N2O production rates, but could not effectively immobilize NO3− in the soil.